Original article ISPreview UK:
A new report from the Digital Communities All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has warning that the “ongoing lack” of mobile (4G/5G) and broadband coverage in parts of the country (urban, rural and coastal) are “undermining national ambitions“. The solution, they suggest, could be found in planning reform, breaking down monopolies, stronger regulatory scrutiny by Ofcom and more strategic investment.
At present, nearly 90% of premises can already access a fixed gigabit broadband network (here) and Ofcom forecast this rising to around 91-97% (homes) by Jan 2028 (here). As for 5G, the regulator found (here) that it is available from at least one mobile operator at around 94-97% of UK premises or 64-89% from all operators combined.
NOTE: Most of the progress with UK digital connectivity over the past few years has flowed from private investments, although the government has committed around £5bn over the past few years to help tackle the most challenging areas (often rural locations).
The government has supported this through some key targets and other changes, such as the £5bn Project Gigabit programme and its aim of helping to extend gigabit broadband (1000Mbps+) ISP networks to “nationwide” coverage (c.99% of UK premises) by 2032, focusing mostly on the final 10-20% in hard-to-reach areas.
On top of that we’ve also got the £1bn industry-led Shared Rural Network (SRN) scheme to expand 4G into remote rural areas and the Government retains an ambition “for all populated areas” to have access to Standalone 5G (5G SA) based mobile broadband technology by 2030. Such networks are already available across 83% of areas outside of premises in the UK, or 47%-65% when looking at the range across different mobile operators.
However, the new APPG report, which has brought together MPs and Peers from the main political parties (led by Helen Morgan MP), has said the United Kingdom now “risks falling behind other countries unless more is done to boost adoption of high-speed broadband and 5G networks” (particularly closing the remaining gaps in rural coverage). The group has thus called on the government to commission an urgent, independent review of the country’s digital connectivity landscape.
Systemic Weaknesses Identified by the Inquiry
➤ Transparency and accountability:
Current coverage data relies heavily on operator-supplied modelling, which often fails to reflect real-world experiences. This disconnect has led to policy decisions and investment strategies that do not align with actual need. The report calls for Ofcom to adopt a more robust, independent approach to data collection and regulatory scrutiny.
➤ Market structure and competition:
The UK’s digital infrastructure remains dominated by a handful of major operators, limiting competition and slowing progress. Structural barriers—including inefficient planning processes and outdated legal frameworks—continue to stifle innovation. Breaking down monopolies and fostering a level playing field is critical to accelerating rollout.
➤ Economic imperative:
Delays in infrastructure deployment could cost the UK tens of billions in lost productivity. Conversely, successful adoption of 5G and full fibre could deliver gains worth over £200 billion by 2035. Closing the digital divide is not just a social imperative—it is an economic necessity.
The full report doesn’t really mention the monopoly issue much, but when it does it’s usually in reference to Openreach’s impact on the fixed line telecoms market. “Market saturation may cause some altnets to exit or be acquired by bigger firms. This will, to an extent, impact consumer choice and accessibility, but it also represents natural market churn. The Government must keep this in mind, particularly when reflecting on concerns raised during this inquiry about the significant influence of Openreach and its monopoly in the sector,” said the report.
Helen Morgan MP, Chair of the Digital Communities APPG, said:
“Digital connectivity is the backbone of modern Britain and is an essential lifeline – a piece of critical national infrastructure – for communities and businesses.
People in areas with persistently poor broadband or mobile coverage are left at a digital, social and economic disadvantage and risk losing out on opportunities for skills development, employment, and community engagement.
Without reliable access to high-speed services, the UK cannot achieve its economic ambitions or deliver inclusive growth. An urgent, independent review of the nation’s digital landscape is essential to restore trust, ensure transparency, and unlock the full potential of our economy.”
In fairness, a lot of the areas covered by the APPG seem to be ones that the government and Ofcom are already mindful of, or which they’ve already actioned. For example, Ofcom is already working to improve their data and mapping of mobile coverage (here) and the regulator’s imminent Telecoms Access Review 2026 (TAR) will update regulation for the fixed line sector to hopefully help foster a level playing field.
On top of that we’ve also recently had the government’s 10-Year UK Infrastructure Strategy (10YIS), which among other things confirmed a plan to “bring forward“ a more flexible permitting system (aka – flexi-permits) to boost street works across England and, following that, to ease the process of delivering gigabit broadband for leaseholders in blocks of flats (here).
The Government has also just kicked off a new consultation (here) on reforming more planning rules, which is seeking feedback on whether they should further change planning rules and update policy guidance to help “accelerate the deployment” of digital infrastructure (full fibre broadband and 5G mobile etc.).
Suffice to say that there’s already a fair bit of activity in this field, and thus it’s difficult to escape the feeling that the APPG’s report may, at least to an extent, be playing catch-up with current events.
